There are already a large number of electrified models that come from BMW and can be driven on the roads to give you luxury and efficiency.
These cars run the gambit from a basic hybrid powertrain on up to a full EV and offer us a look at what BMW can do when it embraces technology. What we might not want to see is the M Division of the brand embracing this technology. Most of us think of the M side of the BMW vehicles as the ones that bring us the active drive and increased performance from some massive engines that are tuned up for power.
We’re Under the Wrong Impression with BMW
First of all, the BMW M Division has never put an emphasis on the engine that’s under the hood, unless it’s the perfect engine for the car. More important to this side of the brand is the power-to-weight ratio that allows a car to be agile, capable, and athletic on the road or at the track. Does this mean we don’t get to see fantastic engines under the hood? Not at all, the M3 has had a variety of engines under the hood in the past, but the priority is always getting the power right for the weight of the vehicle.
Secondly, if you think the M Division won’t find a way to embrace electrification, you’re dead wrong. This team is ready and committed to adding electric power to their performance models, but we’re not sure what that electrification can be yet. It could come in the form of a 48-volt hybrid system, a plug-in hybrid, or a full battery-electric powertrain. Of course, this team could make use of all three and bring us a variety of electrified M models from the BMW performance division for the future.
The Challenge for BMW
This team is challenged to make sure their main priority stays at the forefront. Adding electric components to a vehicle increases the weight because the batteries can be extremely heavy. That doesn’t mean the team won’t give an M3 a boost or add a floor full of batteries to an M6 in the future, but it could be something we don’t see for a few years. It’s going to be interesting to see how the BMW M Division embraces electrified powertrains to give us the future we want from this performance arm of the brand.
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